It had been a night where I thought I was on the edge of figuring out the code if I could figure out what the code words could possibly mean. It had to do with the names of houses and the streets as well. They were mentioned often so there was a budding seed of thoughts growing in my mind. I would have to nurture it. I hoped it wasn’t leading me in the wrong direction in all this. I began to prepare for the day and dressed in my finery that I had brought along. I sat and began to tune my lute when the knocking came.

“Come in,” I called. It was still early enough that the sun wasn’t fully visible so I was surprised that someone would be checking on me so early despite guests usually sleeping in.

The older lead servant stepped inside and bowed at the waist slightly, “Have you made any progress? I’m afraid that he might arrive soon and I don’t want him to walk into something that might be a trap for all the nobles.

I twisted the tuning peg and plucked the string a few times while I waited for it to hit the perfect pitch. “I’m doing the best that I can. I was not taught this secret code so I have to figure it out. Something I am having trouble with, which is the purpose of a code in the first place.” The fight to keep the frustration and anger out of my voice was difficult as his words made me feel more impatient as well. “I might be better off writing a story about something similar and sending it to him but who knows if he would take it as a warning. Not when he doesn’t know me well enough.”

The man sighed heavily and his shoulders slumped, “I promised his father that I would do anything in my power to insure the safety of the Duke as he grew up. That I would serve him the best I can and for that I need to make sure he is warned of what is to come if he arrives. The king seems dead set on keeping all the younger family members here in the capital for their safety. Such underhanded tactics might completely unravel the good Duke. I beg you and the gods that you hurry.”

The pressure he was putting on me fazed me more than I would like to admit. I also had to be strong enough to save the world and this man wanted me to take care of someone he cared for deeply enough to risk being overheard. Who knew what spies might be in the very home right now that may put all this at risk.

Strumming the lute in the quiet morning I gave myself a moment to think. “Would you put together a list of what you know of each of the houses. I think the family uses some of their names as hints and I might be able to figure some of it out if I know what their usual information might be. I’d rather not have to go deeper into the journals to figure out what they could fully mean. I still don’t get why they would write entire journals in their code. Maybe some form of practice of some kind.” I began to mutter to myself as I worked on perfecting the lute’s pitch.

“I’ll come and explain when I can. I have the house to run but I won’t let it slip from my mind too much. Thank you again, I don’t trust the Advisor to this task. I am not sure where his true alliance is and I believe the Duke has earned your trust somehow.”

“I did entrust the Duke with something rather important. I’m not familiar enough with all the court and what shadows might be about so I’ll have to be as careful as possible. I’ll continue to dedicate all my time to finding out what this code might be so I can send a message as soon as possible to warn him of this place. So please, give me more time to work on it.”

Dejected he turned and left the room, the faint light of the dawn starting to grow as the sun awoke for the day. I played a tune to empty my mind with. Focusing only on the movements of my fingers and the sounds of the strings as they hummed the song with me. I thought back to the most noble songs I knew. Of damsels parting favors upon their suitors. Of the arranging of houses being bound with marriage. Of lineage and honor amongst a people.

It wasn’t long before Angela came into the room and looked surprised to see me awake already. “I was about to wake you so that you could prepare for breakfast. Do you often wake so early on your own?”

“It is from years on the road. If you want to make sure to get as much work done as you can you need to learn to wake up before the sun does. Gives you time to pack up your camp and continue on. Though I do find it a little more difficult with how luxurious this room is to keep from dozing off later in the day.”

“I see, well breakfast will be ready shortly if you would like to join Sir Ermine in his meal. I believe you had things to discuss for the day.”

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These interruptions were the cost of posing as a minstrel. Placing my lute down and heading to the dining hall I saw that tea was being prepared to help wake everyone up for the day. I sat and began to sip my subtly flavored black tea and added some cream and a cube of sugar for a little extra boost to my energy.

Tracey Ermine was positively glowing with satisfaction and seemed more cheery than any man should this early in the morning. I could see a slight redness on the side of his neck just barely showing above the collar. An attempt at hiding what might have been a passion filled bite upon his skin. Seems he was having quite the good time last night and I wondered passively how he was able to get away with it.

With dawning realization I assumed the entire working staff would have known about their affair but couldn’t bring it up with the affluent man. With how packed the house was there would be no way for them to hide it for too long. Especially if they might be found together in the morning. The torpor of rest that came with the act of love was often too powerful to be fought. At least when it was good.

The man drank his tea when it was scalding hot like it didn’t affect him in any way and didn’t add cream or sugar. His chipper attitude grated on me slightly but I took calming breaths. It would do me no good to blame him for being so happy after a night of desire. I often was the same. Though I doubted such indulgences would come to me soon. Instead I ate at the copious amounts of fruit and bread that was brought in. I was still astounded with how much Tracey was able to eat despite his thin frame. I expected his belly to fill like a sheep's bladder getting ready for play.

“It is going to be a good day, Dolan. We have our first meeting and I received word that they will be bringing their two daughters over with them. I’ll have them spending time with a mock tea party of their own so they can practice while you entertain the guests and myself. I do hope you are prepared.” Tracey pushed away from the table after wiping some grease off the corner of his lips and began to whistle off tune as he left the room.

I finished my meal and retrieved my lute. Making my way to the master lounge where I would await the guests I made sure to bring myself to a corner out of the eyesight of those that would be sitting and speaking to one another and waited like a spider waits in their web.

I could hear the guests arrive shortly after breakfast was concluded and the house staff was prepared to receive them. I could hear the hushed laughter of excited girls as they were brought elsewhere in the house. I started to play a song on my lute as Sir Ermine guided a pair of men into the home. One was much older than the other with a large rotund gut and wispy facial hair. The younger one was taller than most men I had ever seen and was built like a brick house. Wide thick muscles made his neck as thick as a tree trunk and his hands seemed like they would engulf a man’s skull.

Each of them took a seat around a small table and I began to listen in on their conversations.

Tracey, “I want to thank you of House Truose for coming to meet me today on behalf of Duke Ursal. I hope his missive found you well. I read over it of course and do agree. I think a positive relationship can be forged between the houses with an arranged marriage between the Duke and your eldest daughter Lucia. What are your thoughts on this? What kind of dowry can we expect from your family?”

The older of the two grumbled quietly, “The Ursal family is waning we cannot offer much as a dowry to the family. In fact we should be asking you to provide a benefit to our home should we even agree to this union.”

“Father, don’t speak against the traditions in our kingdom. It wouldn’t be too unheard of for us as the greater of the houses to still provide something or worth to the Ursals. However I won’t give Lucia to this union. Instead I would like to give my youngest daughter. I brought her today. Patricia should be a good fit and might be able to be groomed to be a proper member of your household.” The large man had a surprisingly light voice in comparison to his size.

Tracey looked a little taken aback that he was immediately put on the back foot, “We need more troops for the invasion from the southern kingdom. The followers of their new one god want to take over our lands and wipe away our culture and lives. I’m sure that your family to the north, where your only concern is the sea, could spare your land troops while your navy protects your shores.”

“We are not sure our neighbors the Jourg family can be trusted. We cannot spare more than a quarter of our troops. However they will be our most elite and two wagons full of iron ingots for your smiths. This is the most we can offer as a dowry.” The older man seemed to be shrewd. I didn’t have a measure of what constituted a good dowry but it seemed that Tracey was unhappy with this.

“Could we also put in writing that we will have first rights to buy your iron ore and ingots in the coming years. Until the marriage is fully cemented and a child is being brought into this world.” Tracey seemed to want a longer benefit than two cartfuls of ingots. Maybe this conflict was going to last longer than I had assumed. This kingdom was seen as a powerful one and I was still surprised that another kingdom even deigned to attack them.

The larger man shook his head slowly, “She won’t be able to bear children for many years. We cannot give you first rights to our ore. Unless you give us first rights to your crops and lumber. We know how verdant your lands have been.”

Tracey’s eyes went wide as the man so blatantly stated that he knew something that might’ve been kept a secret. “In this time of war we cannot spare food and lumber.”

“Then I guess we have nothing to discuss further.” The old man went to stand.

Tracey stood before them and started to clear his throat, “Now now. You must make some exceptions while we are undergoing this war. I won’t go to the king for now for relief as I know he is sending his troops to the front. However the whole kingdom will be required to feed the men that fight.”

The larger man placed a hand on who I presumed to be his father. “We can go back to setting two carts of iron ingots. We can even have them delivered ahead of time so that you can use such an influx of metal to outfit your front lines.”

“Our front lines.” Tracey clarified. “The whole kingdom is going to war.”

The members of house Truose started to haggle and tried to make the dowry lesser and lesser as they started to build an arranged document to be given to the king for approval.